Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-02-17

about coming tonight Dear me
how do looka''
Sally groaned inwardly.
II presume Mr.. Breadie win no
notice much" she said severely. HI
is past those things, / should think
He must be forty at least"
about that, said X tty, sweetly.
The bell rang at that moment. and
the subject of their conversation was
ashered in, followed by tan form,
with fair head, none other than How.
ard himself.
Mr.. Beadle pounced upon the chair
nearest Kitty; Howard sank gracefully
upon the sofa at Sally's side.
| II hope your duties of last night
have not quite worn you out, ;" he said.
looking down at her tenderly.
"Oh, dear me, not at all!' responded
Sally, rather sharply.
That was all wrong; but what was
she to doP
1T was charming affair" Howard
continued, moving a little nearer to
her.
"Thank you!" said Sally abstractedly.
She was watching the pair opposite,
with rising uneasiness.
Mr.. Beadle was leaning forward at a
dangerous angle. talking with horrible
volubility. with his eyes fixed on Kitty's
face.
Sally felt q wild desire to see his
chair roll backward and land him on
the floor.
Howard looked little hurt by her
brevity; but Sally was oblfvious.
Don't you think her lovely?" she
said
Kitty was venturing a remark at the
moment with a coquettish little laugh.
Sally could gladly have shaken her.
Very" said Howard, rather va
guely and without looking around
''He is jealous" said Sally to herself.
Poor fellowT'
''She is always pleasant, like chat, to
everybody" she said. aloud. with SYM
patty and reinsurance in her tone.
She doesn't mean anything by it."
'IndeedP" said Howard
But he did not seem quite to under
stand the force of the remark.
Mr.. Beadle was begging Kitty to
sing; and now was Sally's chance.
''Do dearr' she urged; "oGr new
waltz song. Do you know it?" she
went Oh. turning to Howard. .'Mr.
Bennett will turn your leaves. Kitty"
Howard followed Kitty to the piano
obediently, and Mr., Beadle joined Sally
on the sofa.
How extremely well-suited they
are!' Sally observed. They seem
made for each other. Don't you think
sop
Really, had not noticed it," re-
joined Mr.. Beadle, strok ng his mus.
tache with sudden gravity.
'Stubbly-good gracious. yes!' said
Sally to herself wrathfully.
II should hardly think So" he added,
with some asperity.
Nor said Sally. frigidly.
And they relapsed into silence,
That was the first of a long series of
similar occasions.
Howard and Mr.. Beadle called nces-
sanity, and Sally'S anxetes increased
accordingly.
Til ngs are very discouraging for the
most part. Mr.. Beadle was plainly
enamored of Kitty's manifold charms,
and was determinedly devoted. Kitty
was gay, and careless. and bewitch NO.
and Howard was as langud as ever,
and rather more pensive.
Sally was convinced that this was
due to unhapp ness. He was grieved
and angered by KItty's indifference; he
was prey to hopeless warnings and
passions.
The only drawback to the theory was
that Howard seemed sometimes redic-
ulously and inexplanably attentive to
herself.
BIT that was pride Of course--pique.
Sally we'd in momentarv expectation
of having tale of wounded love and
plighted hopes pourd into her sympa-
thetic ears.
The days and weeks rolled by; Kitty's
visit was drawing to close. and
everybody was looking forward eagerly
to Mrs. Smythe's masquerade.
Sallie herself forgot her schemes and
anxietics in the flutter of preparation.
Kitty was to 60 as a gypsy, in a !
bright silk bodice. gaily bespangled
petticoat, and highly-colored and
highly becoming turban-things which
no gypsy has ever been known to wear.
Sally was to appear modestly as a
peasant of doubtful nationality, with a
tucked waist and abrev ated skirt, and
her hair in two braids down her back.
Sally's hopes had somehow risen
rather high. This was almost the end
of X tty's visit, almost the last time she
and Howard would be together, and
something must happen.
The fact of their approaching sepa-
ton would come home to them both;
would bring them nearer together;
would strike down all obstacles hithcr-
to existing, and bring matters to hap
Ply end.
Mr.. Beadle was, of course, the chief
obstacle. MIR. Beadle had shown a
profound interest in the occasional
pos tive enthusiasm, which Sally con-
sidered revolving.
"a man of his ager' she had said to
Kitty, Indignantly. 1T is absurd! He
will probably come as Infancy"
Undoubtedly" Kitty had respond
ed. gaily. "And Mr.. Bennett as a
lamp-post or a Interchangeable is so
amusingly tall!'
Mrs. Smyth1's rooms were blaze of
light and scene of whirling gaiety.
Sally gazed upon the scene bewilder-